BULLETIN
The Challenges and Rewards of Foster Parenting
Frederick Douglass Branch Library, 3353 W. 13th St. Thursday, January 26, 6:30pm–7:30pm. Free. (312) 673-2755.
Children in the foster care system struggle with the traumas of abuse or neglect, often coupled with the pain of parental separation. This presentation will provide information to adults considering foster parenting about the special needs of foster children and the logistics and legal requirements. (Hafsa Razi)
Meeting on Proposed Englewood High Scbool
Seventh District Police Station, 1438 W. 63rd St., Community Room. Thursday, January 26, 6pm–8pm. Free. (866) 845-1032. ragenglewood.org
Since the revelation that CPS set aside money for a new South Side high school last month, all eyes have been on Englewood. But nothing is set in stone—two other neighborhoods, Chinatown and Roseland, are also reportedly vying for the funds. Opening a new school in any of these neighborhoods may mean the closure of existing schools. Come have your say on the issue at this community meeting. (Hafsa Razi)
Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States
Arts Incubator, 301 E. Garfield Blvd. Friday, January 27, 6pm–8:30pm. Free. RSVP online. (773) 702-9724.
Su’ad Abdul Khabeer’s new book, Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States, discusses African-American Muslim identity and the effect of prejudice on children of that community. Join the author for a book reading, signing, and for performances by local hip-hop artists, including poet and activist Jacinda Bullie. (Jonathan Hogeback)
Stop the Violence: The Solutions Project
Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation, 815 W. 63rd St., 4th floor. Saturday, January 28, 11am–1pm. Free. (708) 845-2889. greaterenglewoodcdc.wordpress.com
As the event flyer reads, “We know the Problems. Come hear some SOLUTIONS.” Join leaders of Englewood neighborhood organizations like R.A.G.E. and Teamwork Englewood gather to discuss ways to address community violence. (Hafsa Razi)
Blackenomics 101
KLEO Center, 119 E. Garfield Blvd. Sunday, January 29, noon–3pm. Free. (773) 363-6941. RSVP online. blackenomics.com
Stop by the KLEO Center for Blackenomics 101, a series of financial literacy workshops geared toward the black community. The workshops will provide resources, access to community leaders and financial institutions, and useful information for managing your personal finances. (Jonathan Hogeback)
Born Out of Struggle: Book Talk on the New Dyett School
The Seminary Co-op Bookstore, 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. Sunday, January 29, 3pm–4:30pm. Free. (773) 752-4381. semcoop.com
David Omotoso Stovall’s book, Born Out of Struggle, recounts lessons learned developing a Chicago neighborhood high school, and the benefits of hands-on community engagement in social justice. Head to the Co-op to join Stovall and writer Bill Ayers in discussion about the book. (Jonathan Hogeback)
Gerrymandering: The Illusion of Inclusion
Whitney Young Library, 7901 S. King Dr. Tuesday, January 31, 5pm–9pm. Free. RSVP online. (773) 800-1475.
Have you ever felt confounded by the smoke and mirrors trick our country calls “the redistricting process”? Be confounded no longer! Jauwan Hall, a student member of the UIC board of trustees, is hosting a viewing of Gerrymandering: The Illusion of Inclusion at the Whitney Young Library, followed by a community workshop on the subject. (Michael Wasney)
Glenn Greenwald: Islamophobia and Surveillance in the Era of Trump
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave. Thursday, February 2, 7pm–9pm. Free. RSVP online. (773) 834-4671. politics.uchicago.edu
Glenn Greenwald, a journalist, author, and constitutional lawyer who specializes in the U.S. surveillance state will discuss with Moustafa Bayoumi, fellow author who covers the experience of Arab Americans, the evolving social and political climate of Islamophobia, and the various efforts to combat it. (Hallie Parten)
VISUAL ARTS
White Seam
Zhou B Art Gallery, 1029 W. 35th St. Opening reception Friday, January 20, 7pm-10pm. Through Friday, February 10. Free. (773) 523-0200. zhoubartcenter.com
Polish designer Agnieszka Kulon brings a multimedia exhibition to the Zhou B Art Center, focusing on her “fascination with the color white.” The exhibit is conveyed through fashion design, video montage, and a set of collaborative projects with fellow Chicago artists in the fields of sculptural painting, video, and sound design. (Austin Brown)
Hecho en CaSa
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm. Through May 7. (312) 738-1503. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org
Francisco Toledo has spent much of his life founding and developing artistic and cultural institutions in his native Oaxaca. This retrospective of his work not only celebrates his legacy as a champion of literacy and expression but also showcases his symbolic, politically conscious paintings. (Jake Bittle)
Riot Grrrls
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Through Sunday, June 18. Tuesday, 10am–8pm; Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm. $12 adults, $7 students; free Tuesdays. (312) 280-2660. mcachicago.org
As one would expect judging by the name “Riot Grrrls,” this exhibit is a refreshingly direct challenge to the sexism that has long permeated the art world. This stunning collection features a series of abstract works by eight prolific, pioneering female painters including Mary Heilmann and Charline von Heyl, as well as works from the generation of female artists that followed. (Bridget Newsham)
Spencer Rogers: Modern Abstractions
S. Rog Gallery, 739 S. Clark St., 2nd floor. Through March 10. Open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10am–5pm, and by appointment. Free. (312) 884-1457. sroggallery.com
It takes a painter’s imagination to curate an exhibition as dazzling as “Modern Abstractions,” comprised of mind-blowing macro photographs selected for interesting detail and exploded in vibrant, dripping acrylic paint. Over a hundred copies will be made of each of these images, which will be on sale to all attendees. Snacks also provided. (Neal Jochmann)
Onward! Movements, Activists, Politics, and Politicians
Uri-Eichen Gallery, 2101 S. Halsted St. Through Friday, February 3 by appointment only. Free. (312) 852-7717. uri-eichen.com
Photographer Michael Gaylord James’s exhibit spans fifty-four years of politics, from the Berkeley Free Speech Movement to Black Lives Matter, from JFK in Mexico to Obama at Chicago State. He hopes to show that there’s reason for hope in the long march toward progress. (Joseph S. Pete)
MUSIC
Young Tee Tee
Reggies Rock Club, 2105 S. State St. Thursday, January 26. Doors 8pm. $10, free with mixtape download. 18+. (312) 949-0120. reggieslive.com
Englewood natives Young Tee Tee, Skee Franchise, Z Money and more bring their latest street singles to Reggies this Thursday, to celebrate the release of Young Tee Tee’s new trap-funk mixtape, Yesterday. Admission is $10, or free if you hit up Datpiff and download Yesterday beforehand. (Austin Brown)
Larry Brown & Music Reloaded at The Corner
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Monday, January 30. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. $5. All ages. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
This week The Corner performers are jazz artist Larry Brown, Jr., a former interviewee for the Weekly’s Interview Issue, and synth-soul diva MusicReloaded—check out both next Monday for an intimate set at Promontory. (Austin Brown)
Sound Voyage Music Series ft. Shawnee Dez
Kusanya Cafe, 825 W. 69th St. Wednesday, January 25, noon–1pm. Free. All ages. (773) 675-4758. kusanyacafe.org
Shawnee Dez brings her spring-loaded soul to Kusanya Cafe Wednesday afternoon, setting off the new Sound Voyage Music Series that’ll be gracing Kusanya every other week for the next few months. Check it out if you’re a fan of soul/hip-hop crossover, or just stop in for a drink and lunch—maybe you’ll end up a convert after all. (Austin Brown)
TRQPiTECA Two Year Anniversary
Juniors, 2058 W. Cermak Rd. Saturday, January 28, 9pm–3am. $5–10. 21+. (708) 314-8282.
The best party in Chicago rolls along towards its two-year anniversary this Saturday, with residents La Spacer and Cqqchifruit pulling out all the stops, and unsung Chicago club track masterminds Shaun J. Wright and Itsï Ramirez, pole dancing from Anghell, performance artist Jerry Blossom, video work by Paula Nacif, and queer tropicalia throughout. It’s DIY, digital, danceable, and drag as fuck—see you there. (Austin Brown)
STAGE & SCREEN
Daughters of the Dust Screening and Discussion
Chatham 14 Theaters, 210 W. 87th St. Thursday, February 2, 7pm. $6. (773) 322-1450. blackworldcinema.net
Coming back twenty-five years after its debut in 1991, the film Daughters of the Dust (the inspiration of Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade) tells the multigenerational struggle of a African-American family between the past and the future. Ytasha Womack will lead a discussion about the film’s impact on Afro-futurism. (Yunhan Wen)
Groundhog’s Day: Rebirth & Regeneration
High Concepts Labs at Mana Contemporary Chicago, 2233 S. Throop St. Thursday, February 2, 7:30pm–10pm. $10. (312) 850-0555. highconceptlaboratories.org
Groundhog, the versatile b-boy tap dancer, will celebrate his newly released audio piece, “Rebirth & Regeneration” by staging a live show with his crew, MDK. Get ready for a wild mix of talking, dancing, rapping, beatboxing and more. It’s on Groundhog Day, of course. (Yunhan Wen)
Various Artists Independent Film Festival (call for submissions)
Regular submissions due February 13, “late submissions” due by February 27. For full submission guidelines, visit variousartiststv.net/vaiff
The second round of submissions for this independent film festival welcomes contributions that are “100 years old or 100 days old,” and of all genres, as long as they’re under forty-five minutes. As with last fall’s round, the festival promises cash prizes and celebrity judges who will review all submissions. (Jake Bittle)
Rebirth Poetry Ensemble at eta
eta Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. Saturday, January 29, 3pm. Free. RSVP online. (773) 752-3955. etacreativearts.org
As part of eta’s “Magic Box” events series the Rebirth Poetry Ensemble, an award-winning local youth slam poetry team, will perform. The group’s coaches include Chicago poetry/music heavyweights Quraysh Lansana, Emily Lansana, and Avery R. Young. (Jake Bittle)
Coney Island Amateur Psychoanalytic Society’s Dream Films
Projections Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan Ave. Wednesday, February 22, 8pm. info@southsideprojections.org
South Side Projections comes to Bridgeport’s Co-Pro next month to show what must be some of the world’s strangest films—those produced by, and based on the dreams of, the “Coney Island Amateur Psychoanalytic Society,” a group of New Yorkers who loved the writings of Sigmund Freud but couldn’t afford to become professional psychoanalysts themselves. (Jake Bittle)
Intents & Purposes, presented by ACRE
Andrew Rafacz Gallery, 845 W. Washington Blvd. Through Saturday, March 4. Tuesday–Friday, 11am–6pm; Saturday 11am–5pm. (312) 404-9188. andrewrafacz.com
The Andrew Rafacz Gallery will present a solo exhibition of sculptures and films by Latham Zearfoss, including a simultaneous broadcast of his new film The Butler Did It, an experimental grappling with science-fiction writer Octavia Butler and philosopher Judith Butler. (Jake Bittle)